BQA investigates FCTVE bogus courses

Pini Bothoko | Friday March 4, 2016 13:20

 

Almost every year, the college is hit by student protests over a number of issues ranging from poor meals and unaccredited courses offered.

The protest, two weeks ago, over unaccredited courses got the attention of the authorities, leading to the temporary closure of the college last week Friday.

Last week, FCTVE SRC president Tebo Thobogang told Mmegi that students have discovered that some of the courses offered at the college are not properly accredited with BQA.

The BQA has disclosed that it will investigate reports that some courses at FCTVE have not been fully accredited.

In a written response to Mmegi yesterday BQA stakeholder relations manager Selwana Pilatwe-Koppenhaver said BQA has not registered or had any written complaints from FCTVE students but has been made aware of the unrest at the college. “BQA is currently investigating the complaint (s). To further address this issue and any other at national level, BQA will host a meeting of all principals on March 7, 2016 and of the national Student Representative Councils (NSRC) on March 11, 2016,” said Pilatwe-Koppenhaver. 

The BQA spokesperson added that, “Unscheduled audits are carried out when a complaint has been raised against the training provider, as in the case of this college. “If found to be non-compliant the provider is instructed to address the non-conformities within specified periods failing which the authority can suspend, withdraw or revoke in whole or in part the registration/ accreditation granted to the provider”.

It is nearly a week since the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) indefinitely closed down the school following students protest over allegations that the school offers non-accredited courses. Students had also expressed concerns over unhygienic food and unpaid allowances. Students said that a lot of things were not done accordingly at the college. They decried that students studying National Diploma in Secretarial Studies wrote examinations last November and to date they are yet to receive their results.

Thobogang recently stated that authorities should sort out their concerns as soon as possible. Students are now frustrated and want to go back to school to prepare themselves for the upcoming examinations in June.

MoESD’s principal public relation officer Silas Sehularo recently told Mmegi that the ministry is still addressing concerns of students and it is not in a position to tell when the school will reopen.

Student unrest at FCTVE is legendary. In recent years the students at the school have often held demonstrations in protest over poor meals and what they term mistreatment from the school authorities. More than a year ago school authorities nearly closed the school as the students boycotted meals because they were said to be poor.